IBM — the company awarded a 10-year, $188 million contract to operate the computer system used to generate millions of parking, red-light camera and speed-camera tickets — makes the final determination of when tickets are issued, not the city.
City of Chicago: Watson should this be a ticket or not?
Watson: If I am smart enough to win Jeopardy there is no way I am dumb enough to get in the middle of this.
Camera proponents lost me when they starting reducing the length of the yellow light just to increase revenue. I guess that whole safety thing was just a ruse.
IBM — the company awarded a 10-year, $188 million contract to operate the computer system used to generate millions of parking, red-light camera and speed-camera tickets — makes the final determination of when tickets are issued, not the city.
It is incredibly frustrating how a quickly civic institutions embrace a do-nothing policy of contempt after the ticket/fine has been issued to you. The non-conservative latitude with which violations are handed out must be supported with understanding and compassion on part of the institution. If you don’t have the resources to evaluate every citizens honest response to a issued violation then you shouldn’t use a flawed autonomous system to mass-distribute potentially life-altering fines and fees.
They’re a license to penalize, often unjustly. If the cop was there, would a ticket be issued? Every time you say probably not, the camera says “Absolutely!”
Electronic Lives (don’t) matter.
- The Way I See It - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 2:01 pm:
Hope this puts to rest the ruse that the cameras are there for safety and not a money grab. Raising cash thru law enforcement is one of the things that make me angriest.
“Raising cash thru law enforcement is one of the things that make me angriest.” Cash and safety are
not mutually exclusive under the law. Judge Posner found in reviewing such violations.
=== Every time you say probably not, the camera says “Absolutely!” ===
An IBM technician makes the final call. Prudence suggests that close calls should not be grounds for a ticket. In Elk Grove Village, where officers must approve any redlight tickets, only clearcut violations merit a ticket. Consequently, there are few serious arguments at ticket hearings there because the video is so unequivocal.
- OneMan - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 10:37 am:
City of Chicago: Watson should this be a ticket or not?
Watson: If I am smart enough to win Jeopardy there is no way I am dumb enough to get in the middle of this.
- Downstate - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 10:37 am:
Camera proponents lost me when they starting reducing the length of the yellow light just to increase revenue. I guess that whole safety thing was just a ruse.
- OneMan - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 10:38 am:
Hey we found another use for Watson…..
- Daniel Plainview - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 11:16 am:
Typical finance industry method, let someone else manage the business with little oversight and just let the money roll in.
But at least he has “gravitas”.
- JIMJAMS - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
It is incredibly frustrating how a quickly civic institutions embrace a do-nothing policy of contempt after the ticket/fine has been issued to you. The non-conservative latitude with which violations are handed out must be supported with understanding and compassion on part of the institution. If you don’t have the resources to evaluate every citizens honest response to a issued violation then you shouldn’t use a flawed autonomous system to mass-distribute potentially life-altering fines and fees.
- Baruch - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 12:11 pm:
Traffic Cams for speeding and redlight violations should be improved, not discarded. They are good for our community.
- A guy - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 12:55 pm:
They’re a license to penalize, often unjustly. If the cop was there, would a ticket be issued? Every time you say probably not, the camera says “Absolutely!”
Electronic Lives (don’t) matter.
- The Way I See It - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 2:01 pm:
Hope this puts to rest the ruse that the cameras are there for safety and not a money grab. Raising cash thru law enforcement is one of the things that make me angriest.
- anon. - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
“Raising cash thru law enforcement is one of the things that make me angriest.” Cash and safety are
not mutually exclusive under the law. Judge Posner found in reviewing such violations.
- anon - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
=== Every time you say probably not, the camera says “Absolutely!” ===
An IBM technician makes the final call. Prudence suggests that close calls should not be grounds for a ticket. In Elk Grove Village, where officers must approve any redlight tickets, only clearcut violations merit a ticket. Consequently, there are few serious arguments at ticket hearings there because the video is so unequivocal.
- A guy - Friday, Jul 15, 16 @ 4:43 pm:
Yep, that’s why there’s few serious arguments. That right there. Yep. Oy.